Less than two weeks after news broke that Genesis had dropped the Electrified G80 from its US line-up, production of the all-electric GV70 has also been put on hold. The company maintains the pause is only temporary, though the timing raises questions about the SUV’s future. For now, the situation doesn’t reflect particularly well on the brand’s electric strategy.

Read: Americans Ignored Genesis’ Electric Sedan So Hard It’s Already Dead

News of the production pause surfaced earlier this week through Business Korea, which reported that Hyundai Motor’s Alabama plant stopped building the Electrified GV70 back in June. The outlet went further, suggesting the move was not just a pause but the permanent removal of the electric SUV from the assembly line.

Troubled Start For Local Production

Genesis has been building the Electrified GV70 in Alabama since February 2023, and it remains the only EV that it produces in the United States. Sales, however, have been underwhelming. Between January and July this year, just 1,367 units were assembled, a decline of 18.3 percent compared with the same period last year. March was especially weak, with only 93 vehicles completed.

The automaker has confirmed that production of the Electrified GV70 has indeed been halted in Alabama, but it insists it is only a temporary measure and that manufacturing will resume soon.

Official Response

“Genesis has temporarily paused assembly of the Electrified GV70 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) as we optimize our production plans,” a Genesis spokesperson told Carscoops. “Electrified GV70 production is planned to resume for the US market, with details to be announced at a later date. The Electrified GV70 remains available at US retailers at this time without disruption. Along with the GV60 SUV, Genesis will continue to offer an EV lineup that meets the needs of US consumers.”

While Genesis says the electric SUV isn’t going anywhere, it clearly faces pressure to spark more interest among buyers. Toward the end of November, the model was refreshed for the 2026 model year, gaining a larger 84 kWh battery pack to replace the previous 77.4 kWh unit. The upgrade suggests Genesis isn’t ready to walk away from the electric SUV, even if sales have yet to match expectations.

When Tesla launched the Foundation Series version of the Cybertruck, it promised that it would come with a special roof-mounted LED off-road light bar. However, a newly filed lawsuit in the US contends that many owners did not receive these light bars, and says that some wouldn’t have purchased their trucks had they known the light bar wouldn’t be included.

The lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Eric Schwartz in California. He alleges that he purchased a Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast in December 2023 and paid an extra $20,000 for the Foundation Series version. These vehicles were supposed to be equipped with several upgrades, including the light bar positioned just above the windshield.

Read: Tesla’s Big Promise On Self-Driving Just Opened The Door To Lawsuits

However, according to Schwartz, his Cybertruck was delivered without the LED light bar, and while he has repeatedly contacted the automaker, it has apparently refused to give it to him.

The lawsuit contends that the plaintiff suffered an ‘injury in fact’ because Tesla took his money but did not provide the products it had promised. Through the class action, Schwartz aims to represent all Cybertruck purchasers in California who bought a model that was supposed to include the off-road light bar, but was not delivered with one.

The class action also claims that buyers may not have purchased their Cybertrucks had they known Tesla was advertising the light bars without the intention of delivering them with the vehicles.

Just Another Lawsuit

This isn’t the only recent lawsuit to be filed against Tesla in California. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin said the automaker must answer to a certified class action that alleges the automaker misled drivers about the self-driving abilities of its vehicles. The lawsuit claims that Tesla failed to live up to the promises made by the company on its website, in blog posts, on social media, and in comments made by boss Elon Musk.

Elon Musk finally addressed what so many have been asking for. The Model YL, an elongated version of the Model Y, was launched in China recently, but until now, we haven’t heard about whether or not it would actually come to America. The long and the short of it is, very likely next year.

The Model Y is Tesla’s best-selling car. In fact, it’s one of the best-selling cars worldwide across all brands. It’s not surprising then that fans would want the new six-seater version wherever they can get it. That kind of automatic demand made bringing the car to the U.S. seem like a no-brainer, and it still is, unless Musk finally accomplishes what he’s been promising for several years.

More: Tesla’s Model Y L Gets Bigger And Pricier With New Six-Seat Layout

That promise is full-scale Level 5 autonomy to the point that it would negate the need for the Model YL. If that sounds a bit far-fetched, don’t feel bad. Musk has notoriously over-promised and under-delivered. Still, he finally addressed US production of the Model YL and brought up autonomy again.

In response to another person asking about the car on X he said “This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year. Might not ever, given the advent of self-driving in America.” No doubt, Tesla’s Robotaxi program is rolling out relatively fast, and faster than some cities say it legally can, but it’s far from a polished Level 5 system.

This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year.

Might not ever, given the advent of self-driving in America.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2025

Every Robotaxi shuttling passengers around has an actual Tesla employee inside acting as a safety officer. On top of that, it begs the question that Musk didn’t respond to in his comment section. “Wouldn’t people with a lot of kids still want a 3-row SUV even with self-driving?” That didn’t come from some Tesla hater, either, but from the person the richest man in the world responded to in the first place.

Nevertheless, Musk isn’t saying exactly how larger families are supposed to get around, even if Robotaxi takes off. For now, expect Model YL production to begin in the USA late in 2026, or maybe even in early 2027.

Credit: Tesla

If you’re in the market for a luxury all-electric SUV like the Lucid Gravity, now might be the best time to get behind the wheel of one. The Trump administration is abolishing the $7,500 federal EV tax credit at the end of September, which will make eligible EVs much more expensive. Fortunately, Lucid is stepping in and will continue to offer a $7,500 credit through to the end of the year.

Lucid has announced that qualifying lessees who place an order for a new Lucid Gravity and finalize a lease between October 1 and December 31 will be eligible to receive the Lucid Advantage Credit, worth a cool $7,500. Qualifying existing customers will get the same benefit.

Read: Lucid’s Gravity X Looks Like It Might Survive A Dirt Road If It Has Enough Warning

In a press release for the incentive, Erwin Raphael, Lucid’s vice president of revenue, noted he has seen “firsthand how [the federal EV tax credit] has played a meaningful role in encouraging people to make the switch to an electric vehicle.”

Tax Credit Pain

The removal of the tax credit comes at a bad time for Lucid. It has been developing the Gravity SUV for several years now, and to fund its own credit, will now have to take an additional $7,500 hit on every Gravity that is leased. That’s bad news for a company that remains unprofitable and wants to become a serious mass-market EV player.

Lucid started production of the Gravity in late 2024 and has been slowly ramping up volume. Recent drone footage from YouTuber LucidFlys shows there are currently hundreds of Lucid Gravity models parked across staging lots at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. According to the YouTuber, Lucid has been dealing with some supplier constraints impacting Gravity production, in particular relating to shortages of head-up displays and power outlets.

The Lucid Gravity is currently only available in Grand Touring guise in the United States, starting at $94,900, but later this year, the order books will open for the Touring version, set to start at $79,900. All models are underpinned by a 926-volt electrical architecture, allowing the EV to charge at up to 400 kW, meaning 200 miles (320 km) of range can be added in less than 12 minutes.

Pricing for the next-generation Nissan Leaf is finally official, giving us a picture of how the popular EV is shaping up for 2026. The new model not only undercuts the equivalent trims of its predecessor, it also positions itself as one of the most affordable electric vehicles currently available in the US. The only missing piece of the puzzle is the cost of the entry-level S trim, which Nissan has yet to disclose.

According to the automaker, the Leaf now holds the lowest starting MSRP of any EV on sale in the country. To put things in perspective, here’s how the 2026 model year compares with the outgoing 2025 version.

2026 NISSAN LEAF MSRP

Nissan managed to keep the S+ trim just under the psychological $30,000 mark, no small feat given today’s inflationary climate. It is reasonable to expect the upcoming S trim to come in even lower, strengthening the Leaf’s appeal as a budget-friendly EV.

More: Nissan’s New Leaf Could Be In Trouble Before It Even Hits The Road

For now, the only direct comparison between generations can be made with the SV+. The new version starts at $34,230, nearly $2,000 less than the 2025 model, despite offering more range and a richer list of standard features.

Nissan

Two Powertrain Options

The S+, SV+, and Platinum+ trims share the larger 75 kWh battery, delivering up to 303 miles (488 km) of EPA-estimated range. These versions are paired with a more powerful motor producing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS). The base S trim uses a 52 kWh pack and a 174 hp (130 kW / 177 PS) motor, still an upgrade over the outgoing entry-level setup.

On the charging front, every US-market Leaf now includes a NACS port for Tesla Supercharger access and supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.

Sleeker Design and Updated Cabin

The Leaf’s redesign moves the model into fastback crossover territory, with a 173.4-inch (4,404 mm) body that cuts a more aerodynamic profile than the hatchbacks it replaces. LED lighting is standard across the board, while the Platinum+ gains exclusive taillights inspired by the Nissan Z. Wheel options range from steel 18-inchers with aero covers on the S and S+, to 18-inch alloys on the SV+, and 19-inch alloys on the Platinum+.

More: Nissan Says We Made A Mistake With New Leaf’s Taillights

Nissan claims that the cabin is roomier than before, helped by a flat floor and newly designed seats. Up front, every trim comes with a digital cockpit: the S and S+ feature dual 12.3-inch displays, while the SV+ and Platinum+ step up to larger 14.3-inch screens.

At the top of the range, the Platinum+ sets itself apart with a panoramic roof that can shift from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. It also adds a head-up display, multi-color ambient lighting, a motion-activated power liftgate, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. A full suite of driver-assistance features is included across the entire lineup.

Deliveries of the 2026 Nissan Leaf in the US are slated for fall 2025, with launches also planned in Japan, Europe, and Australia.

Nissan

The Mercedes G-Wagen (aka G-Wagon or G-Class) is a real if-my-numbers-came-up kind of daily for many of us. But even folks with lottery win-sized bank balances haven’t taken a shine to the new electric version, and thus Mercedes is making moves to get them moving.

A bulletin sent to dealers instructed retailers to offer incentives of up to $9,500 in August on the G580 with EQ technology. That’s $2,000 more than the $7,500 that was already on the table last month, and more than BYD charges for an entire Seagull EV in China. There are also deals to be had on the monthly G580 lease costs themselves in the form of promotional lease rates that bring the APR down to 4.3 percent.

Related: BMW Is Planning A Rugged G-Class Rival That May Kill The XM

CarsDirect suggests Mercedes is pushing out the deals to make hay before EV tax credits disappear in September, hoping to attract customers keen to secure a saving before the credits window closes. Although the G580 EQ wouldn’t qualify for the federal rebate (or the Mercedes incentive), if you were buying it outright, due to the combination of its high purchase price and foreign origin, those obstructions are removed if you lease it.

An almost five-figure discount would be game-changing on an ordinary car, but in this case we are talking about a $162,650 SUV. And more specifically, one that costs $13,000 more than the gas-powered G550 many people would prefer to drive, but unfortunately doesn’t qualify for the incentives. The $187,250 G63 AMG, the one almost everyone would – finances allowing – pick first, doesn’t qualify either.

The G580 EQ looks just as cool as a combustion G-Class and can do showboating tank turns, but it’s seriously compromised as an EV by its mammoth 6,800 lbs (3,085 kg) bulk and brick-like shape. Despite a huge 116 kWh battery, the 579 hp (588 PS / 432 kW) EQ has an EPA-rated range of only 239 miles (385 km), though reports claim a new battery coming in 2026 could add at least 100 miles (160 km) to that number.

However, if you can live with that drawback, have deep pockets, and don’t want to wait a year, now is a good time to jump in. CarsDirect says you can get into a G580 EQ for 36 months and 36,000 miles (58,000 km) for $1,869 per month, which works out at a true $2,275 once you’ve accounted for the $14,613 due at signing.

Touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons seemed futuristic when Volkswagen introduced them, but they’ve sparked more frustration than admiration. Now, according to a new class action lawsuit in the US, these capacitive controls may not just be inconvenient – they could pose a genuine safety risk.

Read: VW Getting Rid Of Dreaded Touch-Sensitive Controls On Steering Wheels

A few years back, Volkswagen admitted that touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons were a misstep and pledged to return to physical switches in future models. That decision, however, does little for current owners still stuck with controls that the common consensus is that they are far too finicky.

According to the lawsuit, these overly sensitive controls mean it’s possible to automatically engage the Adaptive Cruise Control with a “mere light brush of the hand,” potentially putting drivers in dangerous situations.

Focus on the ID.4

The case is focused on VW ID.4 models equipped with these capacitive buttons and names two plaintiffs who are reportedly now “terrified and hesitant” to drive their vehicles. The class action also alleges that VW has failed to disclose the alleged defect, nor has it offered its customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge, or even offered to reimburse its customers.

It’s also been alleged that VW has known about the problem because of customer complaints, internal records, and information sent from dealers.

The plaintiffs involved assert that Volkswagen is guilty of common law fraud by omission, alongside breach of express and implied warranty and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit has been filed in a New Jersey federal court and also asserts that the company has violated consumer protection laws in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

While it’s been almost three years since VW said it’d ditch its capacitive steering wheel controls, we will have to wait until the launch of the all-electric ID.2all before physical steering wheel buttons make a return. As such, it’ll likely take the German brand several years to completely phase out the haptic switches from the rest of its model range.

Sales of Lucid’s Air sedan are growing, and its new, high-riding Gravity brother has met with rave reviews, so why are sales of the SUV so awful?

That’s a question you might ask after learning that a pathetic nine examples of the theoretically more on-trend EV in Lucid’s lineup were registered in the first six months of 2025. The figures, first reported by Auto News, come from S&P Global Mobility, whose data set also confirmed the Air logged 4,780 registrations in the same period.

Related: Lucid Prepares An SUV That’s Built For More Than The Highway

Lucid sedan sales were up 52 percent year-on-year, but far more people want to buy SUVs than traditional-shaped four-door cars these days, so the nine-unit Gravity tally was disappointing to say the least.

“The Gravity nails its mission,” wrote Car and Driver after testing the $96,550 utility, praising its speed, range, and cargo space. But since the ultimate mission of any automaker is to sell cars, S&P GM’s numbers suggested it hadn’t nailed, but failed, its mission.

Lucid Pushes Back

Unlike U.S. President Donald Trump did upon hearing less than favorable job statistics, Lucid didn’t have a meltdown and demand the head of S&P GM’s adder-upper. But it did claim to Auto News reporters that the nine-cars figure was wildly inaccurate. The real numbers are in the “multiple hundreds,” it said in an email to the website.

Lucid explained the huge disparity between the two numbers as resulting from a lag between the date on which vehicles are sold and the date on which they’re registered.

The Gravity entered production in December 2024, but 2025’s first quarter production was ringfenced for showroom models and demo drives. Customers didn’t begin to get their own SUVs until spring, and even then, the production ramp-up was happening slower than anticipated, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff told AN in June. The loss-making company also trimmed its 2025 production forecast.

More Trims, More Volume to Come

Currently, the Gravity is only available in GT trim with 828 hp (840 PS / 617 kW) and a 450-mile (724 km) EPA range, but a year from now, with SUV production in full swing, the numbers will look very different, and registrations should relegate the Air sedan to a side-man.

For years, driving solo in an electric or alternative fuel vehicle often came with a quiet perk: a pass into the fast-moving HOV lane. That benefit, long seen as an incentive to support cleaner transportation, is now nearing its end. California’s Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) Decal program, once a reliable shortcut for qualifying drivers, is scheduled to wind down on September 30, 2025. And the impact won’t stop at the state line.

More: Millions Hate This Fuel Saving Tech So EPA Wants To Get Rid Of It

The program exists in various forms across several states, including Maryland, Hawaii, North Carolina, and others. The system encouraged EV and alternative fuel adoption but gave drivers access to HOV lanes without meeting minimum occupancy requirements. Its continuation has always depended on an Environmental Protection Agency waiver. That same waiver is now facing a legal challenge from the Republican-led Congress.

Federal Friction

“Clean Air Vehicle Decals are a smart, cost-effective incentive that has played an important role driving the adoption of clean and zero-emission vehicles in California,” Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board, told Road&Track. “But thanks to the federal government’s failure to act, this successful program is coming to an end.”

As of now, the program ends on September 30. After that, every vehicle in the HOV lane across the nation will need to meet minimum occupancy rules or pay a toll to gain access, regardless of propulsion type. In California alone, that’ll affect 519,000 people who have active decals for the HOV lane.

Nationwide Shift

The change won’t stop in California. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, “Putting the brakes on this program means that starting October 1, 2025, CAV decals will no longer be valid in California, or elsewhere in the United States. All vehicles will be required to meet posted vehicle occupancy to travel in carpool lanes and pay required tolls or risk receiving a citation.”

Notably, Sacramento is trying to extend the program. State Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Bermuda Dunes) secured a bill to push the end date to January 1, 2027, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last year. But without federal approval, that plan is dead on arrival.

Unless there’s some big surprise coming in the next month or two, HOV lanes across the USA are about to go back to being carpool lanes. 

Credit: Chargepoint

Earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration effectively paused the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. At the time, state transportation directors were told the Trump administration had “decided to review the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI” program and its guidance would be updated to better align with their latest priorities.

Many people feared that would mean disastrous things for the $5 billion program, which was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. However, the Trump administration is now reluctantly moving ahead with plans to support electric vehicle charging.

More: Trump Administration Hits Pause On EV Charger Funding

The Department of Transportation unveiled revised guidance for the program, which they claimed will “streamline applications, provide states with more flexibility, and slash red tape left by the Biden-Buttigieg Administration.” The Trump administration went on to claim their predecessors “wasted time, money, and public trust in implementing the program.”

Fewer requirements, more flexibility

Political mudslinging aside, the government said the changes minimize the content necessary in state plans, while also simplifying their approval process. States can also expect more flexibility to determine the appropriate distance between charging stations.

DOE DC fast charger map

While it’s hard to argue with those updates, the government also noted the changes eliminate “requirements for states to address consumer protections, emergency evacuation plans, environmental siting, resilience and terrain considerations.”

This sounds like a terrible idea as a lack of charging stations on emergency evacuation routes could be a matter of life or death. However, the government said states “should … address emergency and evacuation needs, snow removal and seasonal needs, and ways for EV charging to support those needs.”

A quick deadline ahead

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “While I don’t agree with subsidizing green energy, we will respect Congress’ will and make sure this program uses federal resources efficiently.” He added, “Our revised NEVI guidance slashes red tape and makes it easier for states to efficiently build out this infrastructure.”

With the updated guidance released, the clock starts ticking as the government said states should submit their EV Infrastructure Deployment Plans within 30 days. That’s a quick turnaround and one that could prove bumpy.

An American rapper by the name of Big Huey has spectacularly claimed that Tesla remotely deactivated his Cybertruck after he released a song named after the controversial electric pickup. However, the whole saga has been staged, likely concocted as a way to generate PR for the song and drive traffic to the rapper’s Instagram page.

Things started over the weekend when Big Huey posted a video to Instagram alleging that Tesla had remotely shut down his Cybertruck, leaving him stranded on the side of a highway. The rapper shows the infotainment screen of the EV displaying a bright red and white warning, reading ‘Tesla Cybertruck De-Activated’. It also says ‘Critical issue detected, contact customer service,’ and instructs the rapper to ‘Comply with cease & desist to re-activate.’

Read: Why The US Army Is Preparing To Blow Up Two New Cybertrucks

According to the rapper, he was “stranded as (explicit),” and couldn’t move the truck. The post has generated a huge amount of attention online, generating more than 112,000 likes. A comment, reading ‘U missed ur payments bro,’ has even been liked over 51,000 times.

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A post shared by Detroit (@bighuey313)

Shortly after posting this video, Big Huey also shared a video that he says shows a cease and desist letter sent to him from Tesla. In the letter, the automaker takes issue with the rapper his the Cybertruck name in his song, and imagery related to the pickup. The letter ends with the signature of Dinna Eskin. However, both this letter and the original video are fake.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Detroit (@bighuey313)

Tesla Sets The Record Straight

Tesla took to X and Instagram to confirm that the clip of the Cybertruck being stranded on the highway was faked, confirming that it “does NOT disable vehicles remotely.” Additionally, the claimed cease and desist letter used the old title of Eskin as the Sr. Director and Deputy General Counsel for Tesla, whereas she is now VP of Legal at Tesla.

In addition, a Redditor was able to replicate the red and white screen that shows on Big Huey’s Tesla by plugging in a laptop and typing out a message to be displayed on the screen.

Yet another Cybertruck remotely bricked by Tesla.
byu/joonatoona inCyberStuck

Ford promised a Model T moment this week, and the news it just dropped is undeniably huge. The headline is that a new $30,000 compact electric truck is in development and will arrive in 2027. But the story is much bigger and involves an entire family of affordable EVs that will follow in the truck’s wake.

More: Ford Delays Big EV Truck Again But Something Smaller Is Coming And It Could Be Named Ranchero

But let’s deal with the pickup first. Ford says it’s a four-door midsize electric truck, meaning it will fit in the range below the existing F-150 Lightning. It’ll start production in Ford’s Louisville plant in Kentucky two years from now, and will cost $30,000 – and that’s an MSRP, not a with-tax-credits price, because credits are being axed this September. Ford says the price matches what the Model T cost a century ago, adjusted for inflation.

Quick Like a Mustang, Roomy Like a RAV4

If this is already starting to sound like bad news for startup Slate Auto and its back-to-basics Slate electric truck, things only get worse. Instead of around 8 seconds to 60 mph (97 km/h), Ford says its electric pickup – which could be badged Ranchero – will be as quick as an Ecoboost Mustang, suggesting 5-second-grade performance. It even claims the truck will have “more downforce” than the Mustang.

And Ford also promises the four-door cabin will have as much interior space as a Toyota RAV4 SUV, says it has a frunk to give a car-like cargo bay, and a lockable bed that can swallow surfboards and other outsize gear. 

A Platform with Range

The EV rides on a brand new flexible electric platform that will spawn a huge family of other EVs, some very different from the truck, judging by Ford’s presentation. One gif showing the different types of vehicles the platform could accommodate showed everything from two-seat vans to three-row SUVs.

Compared with a conventional platform, the new architecture has 20 percent fewer parts, 25 percent fewer fasteners, requires 40 percent fewer plant workstations, and reduces build time by 15 percent, Ford claims. It also suggests the resulting vehicle will cost less over five years of ownership than a Tesla Model Y does over three.

“The numbers tell the story” Farley said. “Take for instance the wiring harness in the new midsize truck; it will be more than 4,000 feet (1.3 kilometers) shorter and 10 kilograms lighter than the one used in our first-gen electric SUV.”

Ford plans to cut costs further by equipping the truck with lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. These packs are designed to be lighter and more compact, and they will double as part of the vehicle’s structure, forming the floor as well as the battery housing.

“We took inspiration from the Model T – the universal car that changed the world,” said Doug Field, Ford chief EV, digital and design officer. “We assembled a really brilliant collection of minds across Ford and unleashed them to find new solutions to old problems. We applied first‑principles engineering, pushing to the limits of physics to make it fun to drive and compete on affordability. Our new zonal electric architecture unlocks capabilities the industry has never seen. This isn’t a stripped‑down, old‑school vehicle.”

An Assembly Line Reinvented

The company will overhaul its manufacturing process with the Universal EV production system, replacing the traditional straight-line assembly with a branching “assembly tree.” In this setup, the front, rear, and structural battery pack are built on separate lines at the same time before being joined in final assembly.

Large single-piece aluminum castings reduce the number of parts, while pre-organized kits provide workers with all tools and components in the correct position, improving speed and ergonomics. According to Ford, the design “dramatically improves ergonomics for employees by reducing twisting, reaching and bending, allowing them to focus on the job at hand” .

Ford says the approach will make assembly of the midsize electric truck up to 40 percent faster than current Louisville-built vehicles, with part of that time reinvested in insourcing and automation to raise quality and lower costs. The net result is a 15 percent overall speed increase.

End Of The Road for Escape, Corsair

The arrival of Ford’s new generation of EVs at Louisville means the end of the road for the company’s Escape compact SUV as well as the Lincoln Corsair, both of which are currently assembled at the Kentucky plant.

Amid ongoing pressure to shift away from imports, one of America’s largest automakers is taking a temporary detour. While President Donald Trump has been pushing US companies to rely less on foreign suppliers, General Motors is planning to import battery packs from Chinese manufacturer CATL.

The company says this decision is short-term, part of a broader strategy to eventually build its own battery packs domestically.

Read: GM’s EV Dream Plant Is Now A Gas Powerhouse In The Making

The move was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, and later confirmed by the carmaker. CATL will supply GM with lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for the next-generation Bolt, which is expected to enter production later this year before arriving in dealerships in 2026.

GM says it plans to rely on CATL’s battery packs for around two years. After that, it expects its partnership with LG Energy Solution to support domestic production of more affordable battery systems.

“For several years, other U.S. automakers have depended on foreign suppliers for LFP battery sourcing and licensing,” a company spokesman confirmed. “To stay competitive, GM will temporarily source these packs from similar suppliers to power our most affordable EV model.”

2027 Chevrolet Bolt teasers

The Cost of Going Global

Of the 13 electric vehicles GM currently sells in the U.S., twelve are equipped with battery packs made domestically. The only exception is the Cadillac Celestiq, which uses a foreign-sourced pack.

By importing battery packs from China, GM will have to deal with duties of approximately 80 percent, according to Nunzio De Filippies from CargoTrans, a major logistics management firm. However, the automaker knows it needs to cut costs with its entry-level EV, and if it has to use Chinese batteries, then that’s what it’ll do.

Limited details are known about the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, but GM has said it’ll cost slightly more than the old model, which started at $28,795 in 2023. It will be built at GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas.

As electric vehicle plans get reshuffled across the industry, Ford is once again adjusting its timeline. Two major EVs are being pushed back, and the focus is shifting toward smaller, more budget-friendly models, including a compact electric pickup that’s now taking priority.

Read: Flip-Flopping Ford Delays Electric Truck And Axes 3-Row EV Plans, Will Build Hybrids Instead

Suppliers were recently informed by Ford that the planned full-size electric pickup, to be produced at the new BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee, has been pushed back from 2027 to 2028. This new model will be a successor to the F-150 Lightning. In addition, the next-generation E-Transit will no longer launch in 2026 as originally planned, but rather in 2028.

Another Round of Delays

This is not the first time Ford has delayed the two models. As noted by Yahoo!, the new E-Transit was originally set to launch “mid-decade” after it was first announced in 2022. Similarly, the new electric pickup codenamed T3 was originally scheduled to launch this year. Just 12 months ago, Ford also killed plans for a three-row electric SUV that would have rivaled the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.

“F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today’s customer needs,” Ford said in a recent statement. “We remain focused on delivering our Ford+ plan and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.”

Shifting Toward Smaller EVs

Ford is now favoring smaller EVs. It is hard at work developing a new low-cost EV platform that will underpin several different vehicles, starting with a new compact pickup truck in 2028. According to chief executive Jim Farley, small EVs currently make the most sense in the US.

“The pure EV market in the U.S. seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town, so to speak,” he said. “And commercial… we think that’s going to be a robust business, but we want to shrink the number of top hats. We’re going to have just a few. And we’ve made the adjustments in timing, we think, and to be in segments where we can actually make money on EVs.”

Despite the delay, Ford says its plant in Tennessee will start making prototypes of the new T3 electric pickup in 2027

A Familiar Name Might Return

There’s also a possible nod to the past in Ford’s future product line. As uncovered by Ford Authority, the company recently filed to trademark the name Ranchero, once a classic car-truck hybrid from Ford’s history. The filing, submitted on August 5, 2025, covers both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles.

While there’s no official confirmation, the move would follow a familiar pattern, as Ford has revived other heritage names like Maverick and Lightning in recent years. The timing also lines up with an anticipated announcement about the brand’s new EV platform on August 11.

Update: Nearly eight months after Acura first previewed the reborn RSX, a nameplate returning in a form few expected, the company has released a second teaser, this time revealing the front of the pre-production model. The new RSX is an electric coupe-crossover, and its face adopts a clean, aggressive design. There’s a subtle nod to Acura’s classic “beak” in the sculpted lines, but no traditional grille. Instead, slim headlamps anchor a minimalist front end.

Alongside the teaser image, Acura also confirmed that the RSX Prototype will make its global debut during Monterey Car Week in California, running from August 8 to 17. Original story continues below.

Hot on the heels of the company’s retro-name revival that has already included the likes of the Integra and the Honda Prelude, Acura has announced the comeback of the RSX. The catch? Well, it’s nothing like the RSX you might remember from your early 2000s daydreams.

This time around, the new RSX adopts an SUV body and will be Acura’s first model to ride on an all-new dedicated EV platform. Unlike the Acura ZDX, which borrows its underpinnings from General Motors, the RSX will ride on Honda’s newly developed in-house EV architecture, a significant step forward for the automaker’s electrification plans.

Read: Acura Plots Electric Future To Reverse Declining Sales And Reignite Brand Appeal

The introduction of the RSX is part of Acura’s plans to claw itself back up the sales charts. The automaker lost market share to competitors in 2024, as multiple models recorded double-digit drops in 2024. This will be only the second production EV to appear with an Acura badge on it, with executives highlighting the need for more battery-electric offerings.

A New EV Platform From Honda

The Honda-developed EV platform has already been shown off at CES 2025, underpinning the Honda 0 Series Saloon and SUV prototypes that will evolve into production models next year. Honda’s aim with its new EV platform will be to create lighter vehicles, as well as to reduce the overall height that most EVs require to fit their batteries inside the floor.

The new Acura RSX will also be the first EV produced at Honda’s new “EV Hub” in Ohio. The facilities at the Marysville Auto Plant, the East Liberty Auto Plant, and the Anna Engine Plant are undergoing a $700 million makeover and retooling. The Anna Engine Plant will be where the megacasting for Honda’s new Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) is made.

The IPU is a big step forward in Honda and Acura’s ambitions for EVs, serving as an integral part of the new EV platform. It’s also much larger than anything that Honda has die-cast before, and the initial development in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts, is a win for American manufacturing.

Coupe Dreams Dashed

When news broke that the RSX name had been trademarked, first in Japan and then in the U.S., many predicted that the reborn nameplate would be affixed to a sporty coupe. Although the Integra nameplate has been revived, the fact that it’s attached to a four-door sedan rather than a sporty coupe has been a sore point for longtime fans of the brand. The fact that Honda has revived the Prelude name even made some wonder if the new Acura RSX would be a more premium riff on the new coupe.

See: Honda Trademarks RSX Name In Japan, Is Another Icon Returning?

Instead, Acura takes a leaf from Mitsubishi by turning one of their beloved coupe nameplates into an SUV. When asked by CarScoops as to why the company opted to revive the RSX name for an electric SUV and not a sports car, a spokesperson said, “We believe RSX is the right name for our new all-electric SUV. This isn’t a “revival” of the previous RSX coupe. Globally, that model was sold and marketed as Integra, and we have seen resounding fan enthusiasm for the 5th gen Integra  — especially with the Type S.”

The RSX is said to take inspiration from the speedboat-like Performance EV Concept. From the one image we’ve been furnished with, it appears the new model retains some of the elements of the concept but goes for an overall more conventional approach.

The dramatic NSX-inspired rear appears to have given way to something more reminiscent of a BMW X6 or Tesla Model Y. Meanwhile, the coupe-like roofline has been profiled to be, well, less coupe-like. Still, it’s early days.

Acura hasn’t confirmed a firm on-sale date, but prototypes of the all-electric RSX will begin real-world testing this week. What we do know is that it’ll be the first car from either Honda or Acura to be built on the new EV platform at the Ohio EV Hub, so expect to start seeing the new RSX in showrooms in early 2026.

The U.S. Air Force wants to blow up a pair of Tesla Cybertrucks. And no, this isn’t some new attempt by Donald Trump to take a hit at Elon Musk where it hurts. The reason is more straightforward: the U.S. government believes it could one day face adversaries using Cybertrucks on the battlefield. Now, it’s preparing to find out just how effective its weapons are against what Musk claims is a truck built to “survive the apocalypse.”

More: Cybertruck Suspension Mysteriously Explodes In Owner’s Driveway

Recently, the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) laid out its plans to acquire 33 vehicles for testing. Those tests will happen at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. As one might expect at such a place, the munitions on hand will be very serious. Interestingly, the AFTC doesn’t care what 31 of the 33 cars are, so long as two are Tesla Cybertrucks.

Why the Cybertruck?

That’s according to the document uncovered by The War Zone. In it, the center notes that the Cybertruck’s design, unpainted stainless steel exoskeleton, and 48-volt electrical system make it unlike anything else on the road.

These features could affect how the vehicle responds to missile impacts, which is exactly what the government wants to understand. What stands out, though, is that the military appears to be preparing for the possibility of actually facing Cybertrucks in combat.

The document specifically says “In the operating theatre it is likely the type of vehicles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cyber trucks [sic] as they have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact.”

The document doesn’t spell out where the operating theatre is or who the enemy is. That said, it’s clear that the military isn’t the first to think of a militarized Cybertruck.

Not Just a Thought Experiment

A Chechen warlord got his hands on one last year and mounted a gun in the bed and talked about using it and others in the fight against Ukraine. Notably, other places around the world, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are all either set to get Cybertrucks in the near future or already have them. The message is clear: the Cybertruck is a genuine concern for the U.S. government if they find it on the battlefield. It’s preparing accordingly. 

High-end, luxury cars are perhaps more suited to all-electric powertrains than any other vehicle type, as they provide the silent running and solid performance many shoppers are looking for. With this in mind, it was only logical for Genesis to launch an all-electric version of its excellent G80 sedan, but as it turns out, virtually no one in the US has bought it. This has forced the carmaker to rethink its position in its US line-up.

Read: Genesis’ Flagship SUV Is Hiding A Secret Worthy Of Rolls-Royce

News of the G80 Electrified’s departure from the US market came shortly after it mysteriously disappeared from the brand’s website. After a little more digging, it’s been confirmed that the car has indeed been dropped from the U.S. market, leaving the brand without an electric sedan.

No G80 EV for America

“Genesis is no longer offering the Electrified G80 in North America at this time,” the carmaker confirmed to Carscoops in a statement. “The customer is at the core of every decision we make, and we remain flexible as we adapt to ever-changing consumer needs and market conditions. Our award-winning sedans and EVs remain important parts of the Genesis lineup, and we continue to offer the G70 sport sedan, G80 executive sedan with 2.5T and 3.5T powertrains, G90 flagship sedan, all-electric GV60 SUV, and the U.S.-assembled Electrified GV70 SUV, in addition to our GV70 and GV80 model lines.”

Much like the GV70 Electrified, but unlike the GV60, the G80 Electrified is not based on an all-electric platform. Despite this, Genesis still managed to slot in a sizeable 87.2 kWh battery pack driving a pair of electric motors with 365 hp, to give the G80 Electrified a solid 282 miles (454 km) of driving range.

Sales Simply Didn’t Follow

Genesis didn’t pinpoint a reason for killing off the car, but it’s probably due to its dismal sales. Last year, Genesis sold just 140 electric G80s in the US, and through the first half of 2025, it shifted just 77 units. Additionally, the car is subject to 15 percent import tariffs as it is built exclusively in South Korea and will not be one of the models that Genesis builds at Hyundai’s massive $5.5 billion plant in Georgia.

Three years ago, a former GM factory in Ohio seemed poised for a dramatic comeback. Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant best known for assembling iPhones, purchased the site from Lordstown Motors with big plans to turn it into a hub for electric pickup trucks. But those ambitions never materialized. Now, the factory has quietly changed hands in a $375 million deal involving one of Foxconn’s existing partners.

Read: Foxconn Will Build EVs In The US But You’ll Never See Its Name On Them

Foxconn originally paid $230 million for the Lordstown facility, with the intent to make it a hub for its EV production and research in North America. It helped Lordstown build dozens of its all-electric Lordstown Endurance vehicles at the site, but the partnership quickly soured.

By June 2023, Lordstown had filed for bankruptcy. There were also intentions to manufacture Fisker’s Ocean SUV at the site, though those plans never progressed beyond early discussions.

Factory Sale and Shift in Focus

Recent Taiwan stock exchange filings reveal that Foxconn has sold the factory and land for $88 million. It also sold machinery and equipment for its electric vehicle subsidiaries for roughly $287 million. According to Tech Crunch, the factory has been sold to Crescent Dune LLC, which was formed in Delaware just 12 days ago.

Despite the transaction, Foxconn says it will continue operating the plant and plans to expand into “new business areas.” The Wall Street Journal reports that the facility will now pivot to manufacturing cloud computing hardware, specifically designed for AI applications.

Not Giving Up on EV Ambitions

While the decision to turn the factory from an EV hub into one focused on AI hardware may make it sound like Foxconn is backing away from the electric vehicle space, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The company plans to build a family of EVs, and has already previewed several of them as concepts.

As recently as this past March, it was reported that Foxconn planned to start building the electric Model C SUV in North America during the fourth quarter of this year.

It’s not just in-house EVs that Foxconn is interested in. The company is also expected to manufacture electric vehicles for two Japanese automakers, with speculation pointing to Mitsubishi and Nissan.

Though details remain unconfirmed, the partnerships could signal Foxconn’s continued commitment to becoming a major player in EV manufacturing, even as it diversifies its U.S. operations.

For Hawaiians looking to drive electric, be that a pure EV or PHEV, a new obstacle has rolled in. Matson, Inc., one of the state’s primary shipping providers and a major player in Pacific cargo routes, has decided to stop transporting electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The company serves regions including Alaska, Guam, and Micronesia, but this latest policy shift puts the brakes on EV imports to the islands, at least for now.

Read: Thousands Of Chinese Cars Sank With This Ship And The Bill Keeps Climbing

In the wake of the Morning Midas shipping disaster in June, when a cargo ship sank due to a fire while carrying 3,048 vehicles, including 70 EVs and 681 hybrid, Matson has raised concerns about transporting vehicles powered by large lithium-ion battery packs.

The decision to halt EV and PHEV shipments comes despite the company previously forming a collaborative team to address the challenges of moving cars equipped with lithium batteries.

Immediate Suspension of EV Shipments

“Due to increasing concern for the safety of transporting vehicles powered by large lithium-ion batteries, Matson is suspending acceptance of used or new electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles for transport aboard its vessels,” the company stated. “Effective immediately, we have ceased accepting new bookings for these shipments to/from all trades.”

As noted by The Maritime Executive, unlike the Morning Midas and other dedicated car carriers such as the Felicity Ace or Fremantle Highway, Matson’s vessels don’t feature large, open storage decks. Instead, all vehicles are shipped in individual containers. That setup, while practical for general cargo, complicates fire detection and suppression compared to specialized roll-on/roll-off car carriers.

Future Possibilities Still on the Table

Hawaii is currently home to about 37,000 electric vehicles, and demand continues to grow. Importantly, Matson’s ban may not be permanent. The shipping firm recently sent a letter to its customers saying it “continues to support industry efforts to develop comprehensive standards and procedures to address fire risk posed by lithium-ion batteries at sea and plans to resume acceptance of them when appropriate safety solutions that meet our requirements can be implemented.”

For now, though, those looking to ship an EV to the islands may have to explore other options, or wait until the industry finds safer ways to move high-voltage cargo across the Pacific.

Mazda isn’t diving headlong into the electric transition, but it’s not standing still either. Instead, it is following a measured path, blending hybrid models with steady electrification efforts and continued updates across its core lineup. This includes a hybrid CX-5, updated sales targets, future EVs, and even new sports cars.

The company recently introduced a new generation of its top-selling model, the CX-5. While the redesign matters, the more significant news is the addition of a hybrid powertrain set to arrive in 2027. This move expands Mazda’s range of electrified SUVs in the US, aiming to attract more buyers during a time of shifting attitudes toward EVs and growing uncertainty around tariffs.

More: One Country Asked Mazda For Something And Actually Got It With The CX-5

Through the first half of 2025, Mazda reported global sales of 636,968 units, a 2.6% year-over-year increase. The US remained its largest market with 210,297 units sold, up 3.9%, while sales surged 18.7% in Japan but declined in Europe and China by 12.2% and 18.7%, respectively.

According to Automotive News, the company has revised its US sales target of 450,000 units for 2025 in response to potential tariffs and is monitoring the market closely, though pricing for imported models has not yet been adjusted.

A Hybrid-Focused Core Lineup

Mazda’s current lineup in North America includes an electrified version of the locally-produced CX-50 compact SUV with a Toyota-sourced hybrid system, as well as plug-in hybrid options for the larger and more premium CX-70 and CX-90 twins. In 2027, these will be joined by a new variant of the third-gen CX-5 fitted with an in-house developed hybrid powertrain based on the new 2.5-liter SkyActiv-Z engine.

The automaker expects its two similarly-sized hybrid SUVs that compete in the hugely popular compact segment against the Toyota RAV4 will result in combined annual sales of 250,000 units in the US. However, before that happens, the new CX-5 will reach dealers with a gasoline engine in 2026.

More: Mazda Just Made The Same SUV Twice But Swears You’ll Want Both

Although the CX-30 is smaller by US standards, it holds the position as Mazda’s third-best-selling vehicle in the region, just behind the CX-5 and CX-50. Introduced in 2019, the CX-30 will continue with minor updates until a new generation launches in 2029.

Likewise, the CX-50 that arrived in late 2021 might get a comprehensive redesign in 2030. As for the CX-70 and CX-90, they will reportedly benefit from mild facelifts in 2026, with new generations arriving after 2030.

Finally, the Mazda3 that is available in hatchback and sedan forms and remains largely unchanged since 2018 is expected to carry on for at least four more years. According to the latest reports, a new generation of the model could arrive in 2032.

The BEVs Of The Future

Mazda plans to launch the mechanically related Mazda6e sedan and CX-6e SUV in Europe and Australia, both originating from its Chinese joint ventures. However, US customers may have to wait a bit longer before they see a fully electric Mazda on showroom floors.

The first EV developed entirely in-house is slated for a 2027 debut and could reach US dealerships in 2028. Though details remain under wraps, the vehicle is expected to be a crossover and will likely pave the way for more electric models as Mazda moves toward its 2030 targets.

What About Sports Cars?

If the SUV-heavy lineup isn’t quite your thing, there’s still good news. Mazda has two sports cars in development, each aimed at reviving the brand’s enthusiast credentials before the decade wraps up.

More: Mazda Is Bringing Back The Rotary RX-7 And Building A New Miata

The most exciting arrival is the production version of the 2023 Mazda Iconic SP Concept fitted with a rotary range-extender electric powertrain. Reports from Japan suggest we might first lay eyes on the new sports car as early as next year, although others expect it in the first half of 2028.

Either way, the low-slung two-door coupe is designed to be a spiritual successor to the RX-7, rather than a replacement for the MX-5.

Also: Mazda’s Stunning Vision SP Morphs Into Next-Gen MX-5

On that note, the MX-5 is getting a new generation as well. Development is already underway, and the next iteration of the world’s most popular roadster could launch in 2029. Encouragingly, it’s expected to keep its four-cylinder gasoline engine and further refine its reputation for agile, accessible performance.

Lead illustration Theottle